Inspired Living, Anyone?

Maybe it’s not something folks think too much about, but the question is certainly relevant: are you living an inspired life? And what exactly does inspired living mean? The answer is subjective but we could agree broadly, I suppose, that it means living, every day, to your fullest potential, spending the day doing what you love doing, and being just as excited to do it tomorrow, the day after, and the day after that. One could watch cat videos and troll whatsapp groups all day long but that is not what I am talking about, of course. I am talking about activities that engage your creative abilities, draw out your talents, and challenge your mind.

Contrary to what folks boast on their resumes and job profiles, for many, their work is not their real passion, and I suspect many would admit in confidence to just that, and additionally, to not living an inspired life. Theirs is a life of quiet desperation; there is a vague unease, a restlessness the source of which they can’t quite lay a finger on. And there is a desire to make daily living more meaningful. Yet, most never break free.

But the recipe itself is simple — take actions every day, however small, towards that thing you dream of doing all day long, every day for the rest of your life. Easier said than done, but the determined mind always finds a way out.

So, for someone that loves to make images with a camera what does it mean to live an inspired life? The simplistic answer, going by our earlier definition, is to be engaged all day, every day, making images with the camera. But it is more than merely pressing the shutter button all day long, of course. Making images is a creative endeavor, and the more varied your experiences the better your creative output. And while making images regularly will keep you inspired, seeking out and learning from other creative endeavors such as music, architecture, sculpture, dancing, and so on, will give it wings.

To those who are photographically inclined there are many ways to keep engaged with the whole process of making images. Try new lighting techniques, start a personal project, study the work of master photographers, shoot a different genre. But also throw in the occasional trip to artist galleries, to musical concerts, to museums, and you will be on your way to greater motivation, and certainly, better images. Spend even a small part of every week doing those things and you will soon be living an inspired life. Or, at least, you will discover the life you prefer to live!